Ink applying instrument



Nov. 7, 1950 B. J. swANsoN INK APPLYING INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. l, 1947 www INVENTOR.

infill!! Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES' PATENT yFFICE Y l ja-,528,921 d v -I Y i 21151K APPLvING INSTRUMENT y .Bernardi Swanson, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Application August 1, 19457, Serial No. 765,382

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in an ink applying instrument for marking goods displayed for sale or on shipping cases to indicate price or destination.

Ordinarily, instruments having an ink reservoir for applying ink to surfaces where indicia is required are susceptible to leakage and become unusable, especially when left unused for a protracted period, or become incapacitated because of drying of the wick through which vink from the reservoir is intended to exude.,

An object of the instant invention is to afford a structure having an ink reservoir, a stopper for confining ink therein provided with a wick and an opening through which ink from the reservoir is supplied to the wick, and a cap for enclosing the stopper and sealing the connection between the stopper and reservoir when the instrument is out of use, thus to obviate leakage and maintain the instrument in operative condition in readiness for use.

And another object of the invention is to provide an ink-applying instrument of simple construction having few parts that are easily disassembled and cleansed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention appear in the following description.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a structure in which the invention is incorporated, portions thereof being in section;

Fig. 2 is another elevational view drawn to an enlarged scale of the stopper containing a wick, a part being in section; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view drawn to an enlarged scale showing the connection between the reservoir, stopper and cap assembly.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of a barrel 4, constituting a reservoir for ink, one end of which is closed and tapered, the opposite end thereof being open and provided with an externally threaded thin annular flange 5, there being an annular shoulder 6 formed at the base of said flange. A stopper I is provided which extends into the open end of the barrel and has threaded engagement therein. The stopper 'I has an exterior collar 8 that fits snugly into the flange 5, there being a gasket 9 inter-posed between the shoulder 6 and the collar 8.

The upper end of the stopper has a concentric socket IIJ in which is disposed a snugly fitting wick I I, and a feed duct I2 is madein the stopper affording communication between the reservoir the corresponding end/ofthe barrel'fdf whenjin closed position. The boren-f an intermediate pore tion IE of the cap, a d jacent the sleeve, is slightly tapered inwardly toward the closed end of the cap and is interiorly threaded to engage the exe teriorly threaded iiange 5, sov that when the cap is screwed into place on the barrel, the flange thereupon becomes clamped snugly around'the collar 8, thus establishing a tight t between the barrel and stopper, and the cap is hermetically sealed thus preventing evaporation of the ink and consequent drying of the wick.

The lower tapered end of the barrel is preferably shaped to snugly t within the cap and is frictionally held therein Without threaded engagement with the cap. The cap when thus disposed affords balance to the instrument while in use and avoids loss of the cap through inadvertence. Preferably, a pocket clip I'I of usual construction is attached to the cap by which to Y avert loss of the instrument when carried about.

Operation The instrument is prepared for use by removing the cap and the stopper from the barrel and supplying a quantity of ink to the reservoir. The stopper is then replaced, tightened against the gasket, and the cap screwed in place to enclose the stopper and its wick, which tightens the flange of the barrel about the collar 8 on the stopper, thus affecting a complete hermetical seal with respect to the barrel, the stopper and the cap. When the parts are thus assembled, the instrument may be carried around with impunity without danger of leakage of ink or drying of the wick.

When the instrument is placed in service the cap is removed and replaced onto the closed end of the barrel where it is frictionally held. The instrument then is inverted, whereupon the wick becomes saturated with ink passing from the reservoir through the feed duct I2, and the exposed end of the wick then is applied to the goods or packages to be marked. l

removed from the wick during the writing operation is replaced automatically from the supply in the reservoir by capillary attraction through the feed duct, so the wick is kept saturated and in readiness for use. The wick initially fits firmly in the socket, and when saturated with ink becomes swollen to an extent causing its lower end to rest upon the seat i3 Y in the stopper. In this manner the outow of ink from the reservoir is retarded and flooding of the inkA throughV the Wick thusy is prevented.

As the saturation of the wick is lessened by use of the instrument, pressure of the lower end of the wick upon the seat is relieved, thus per'- mitting replenishment with ink through the feed Vduct from the reservoir. f

Variations from the particular construction` Y above disclosed may be resorted to by the exercise of skill in the art, Without departure from duct, an annular tapered seat located .at theV posed in said socket contacting said seat, one end of said wick projecting beyond the correspondingY endV of said stopper affording a nib, and an unvented cap the open. endI of which is internally tapered and threaded for engaging the juncture of said socket and feed duct, a wick disl external threads ofv saidv ange and barrel and provided with anaxially. extending threadless sleeve fitting around an adjacent smooth portion of said barrel when the cap is in place.

2. An ink-applying instrument having an ink reservoir consisting of a barrel one end of which is internally and externally threaded and provided with an axially extendingv ange, a stopper engaged by the internal threads of the barrel,

having: a Vsocket containing a wick' protruding therefrom, a duct throughwhich ink` from the reservoir passes to the Wick, and a collar fitting within said flange, and a cap for enclosing the WickK and clamping the ange about said collar, said cap having a tapered internally threaded portion engaging the external threads of the barrel. Y

3. The structure as defined in claim 2, and a threadless sleeve portion tting around a corresponding threadless portion of the barrel.

BERNARD J. SWANSQN.

REFERENCES CITED Y v The following referencesY arexof record in the le of this patent-1 v UNITED' STATES'P /rrEN'rs` t Date Number Name Y 856,863 Grriner June-l.1-,"1907 946,149 Newman jJan. 11,1910

1,043,414 Fliegler Nov 5, 1912 Y 1,910,669 Biedrrnan. 1Vay 2S, 1933 1,935,639 Keeshan Nov'. 21, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS f' Number Country Date 499,903 Great Britain Jan. 31,1939 520,210 Great Britain Apr. 17,V 1940 

